Mykonos island, Greece | Vacation in Greece by Vida Hospitality

A lot of people from all over the world wonder if Mykonos is in Greece or if Greece is in Mykonos. From this statement alone someone can understand how popular is the island in Cyclades called Mykonos, or the Ibiza of Greece as some people say.

Well, Mykonos is one of the most famous cosmopolitan islands, a whitewashed paradise in the heart of the Cyclades at the Aegean Sea at the East side of Greece. According to the mythology, Mykonos was formed from the petrified bodies of giants killed by Hercules and it too its name from the grandson of Apollo, “Mykonos”.

How to go to Mykonos

You can go to Mykonos either by a ferry or with a plane.

Mykonos International Airport connects Mykonos with both Athens and Thessaloniki in Greece and with other European destinations as well. You can find more information about flights from and to Mykonos at the airport’s website: HERE

There are ferry connections between Mykonos and Athens from either Rafina (Closer to the International Airport of Athens) or from Piraeus (Closer to the city center) and from other islands of the Aegean Sea as well. You can book online your ferry tickets to Mykonos HERE.

One of the most famous typical highlights of the Aegean Sea and a landmark of Mykonos are the windmills that are located at the west side of the chora of Mykonos. During the 17th and 18th centuries the island had more than twenty windmills, which contributed to the wheat production, a fundamental element of the island’s economic development. Today there are seven of the windmills that are maintained in a decent condition and everyone that visits Mykonos will take at least one picture at this area.

One of the most popular neighborhoods of Mykonos and one of the most romantic places at the island is the Little Venice. The Little Venice is replete with elegant and gorgeous old houses that are situated on the edge of the sea. One of the most amazing about the Little Venice in Italy is the amazing view to the sunset. Some of the most popular artists from all over the world have used the magnetic beauty of the Little Venice in their priceless artworks, etchings, and paintings thereby promoting the reputation this neighborhood to the outside world. There are plenty of entertainment options such as clubs, bars, cafes and high end restaurants located in Little Venice.

The heart of the island is known by the locals and tourists to be the Matogianni Street in Chora. The street is very popular for two reasons. First it is the place where all the toursits will for sure pass when visiting Mykonos and second it is the place where an open mall with stores from the most well-known designers is located. It is the paradise for women who love shopping and can find there from handmade jewellery to souvenir shops. In the summer time the stores remain open until midnight and celebrities from all over the world can be seen there.

A great area to walk especially in the night time is the old port of Mykonos. There you can find many cafes and restaurants overlooking the sea and you can enjoy amazing walks to the small paths. The old port of Mykonos is very popular also because it is the home of the symbol of Mykonos, the famous pelican that hears to the name of Petros (Peter) the pelican!

In the chora of Mykonos is located the Rarity Gallery. This attraction was established in 1995 and the creators mission is to offer an original, selected and carefully composed aesthetic experience to strengthen the appreciation of the contemporary art, while calorizing the artists, their exposure and reputation. At the Rarity Gallery you can expect to discover new artists as well as unique pieces ranging from sculptures to oil paintings that develop a high level of talent.

At the chora of Mykonos is located the Archeological Museum. Th exhibition of the museum includes a large number of vases, ranging from the prehistoric to the late Hellenistic period (25th – 21st century B.C.) grave statues, stelae and funerary urns from Rheneia and very few from Mykonos. The museum contains the Funerary statues and grave stelae dating from the 2nd/1st century B.C, Pottery dating from the 25th to the 1st century B.C., Clay figurines dated to the 2nd/1st century B.C., Jewellery and small objects of the 2nd/1st century B.C.

One of the must-see and the most romantic places on the North-West part of Mykonos, at Fanari area, is the Armenistis Lighthouse that is 19m tall and was built in 1891 and remains in fully functionality today and overlooks the stretch of sparkling blue water between Mykonos and the neighboring island of Tinos.

The decision to build the Armenistis Lighthouse was prompted by the sinking of the British steamship Volta in 1887 at the north coast of the island where eleven people lost their lives in that unfortunate incident.

The church of Panagia Paraportiani (Virgin Mary) is among the most photographed churches in the whole world. It is located at the entrance of the Kastro neighborhood, right by the sea and its name means standing next to the entrance door, meaning that the church was next to the Castle door. The special thing about this church is that it consists of five small churches that were built one next to the other. The church of Agios Efstathios is located in the center of the complex and is surrounded by the churches of Agios Anargyros, Agios Sozon and Agia Anastasia. On top of the four churches, there is the church of Panagia Paraportiani, which looks like a dome. The churches were constructed between 14th to 17th century and there were renovations till 1920.

Agios Nikolaos is a small Orthodox Church that was built during the 4th century in honor of Saint Nicholas, the protector of sailors and fisherman. It is located at the old port of Mykonos right next to the sea. It belongs to the post-Byzantine era and has a minimal interior with a few icons of the Virgin Mary and the Apostles. The exterior of the church is in harmony with the traditional architecture of the islands as it consists of a picturesque white building with a blue dome.

Close to the village Ano Mera in Mykonos on top of a hill is located the Paleokastro Monastery. It is a nunnery (female monastery) and it dates from the 18th century. Its architecture is the typical on of the Cycladic and it took its name from the remains of the Gizi Castle right next to the monastery that was also known as Paleokastro.

Another monastery that is located in Ano Mera village is the monastery of Panagia Tourliani. The monastery was originally built in 1542 by two priests and was initially named after the Presentation of Virgin Mary. The monastery was restored in 1767 and took its present name after an icon of the Virgin Mary found in the nearby are of Tourlos. At the yard of the monastery there is a marble fountain while in the interior there is an impressive wooden iconostasis and are icons of apostles and saints on the iconostasis as well as scenes from the New Tastament.

The Archeological Site of Delos

The uninhabited island of Delos is a World Heritage Site and one of the most important archeological sites of Greece. It is just a short ferry ride from Mykonos, with departures from Mykonos town in the morning and return in early or mid-afternoon. You can book a ticket from Mykonos to Delos HERE.

According to the Greek Mythology, Delos was the birth-place of Apollo and Artemis. The first evidence of habitation on the island dates from the 3rd millennium B.C. In the 7th century B.C. Delos was already known Ionic center because of its religious importance as the birth-place of Apollo. Athenian influence was inhabited on the sanctuary with the first purification of Delos by Peisistratos in 540 B.C. but it gradually developed into a proper domination lasting until the end of the 4th century B.C. The independence of the island lasted until 166 B.C. when Romans gave it over to the Athenians. The second Athenian domination started with the expulsion of the Delians to Achaia, in the Peloponnese.

During Mithridates wars against the Romans, Delos suffered severe damage in the raids of 88 and 69 B.C. Since then the island prosperity gradually came to an end. In the 2nd and 3rd centuries A.D. only a small settlement existed on Delos and, as Christianity had gradually replaced the ancient religion, the island finally lost its importance.

The Agora of the “Hermaistes” or “Competaliastes”.

One of the main markets of the Hellenistic city, the Agora that is dated to the last quarter of the 2nd century B.C., is an open square abutting the Sacred Harbour, paved with large flat stones. On the north side lies the Portico of Philip and a small Ionic temple dedicated to Hermes, the god of commerce while on the east and south sides of the market there were shops and workshops. At the center of the Agora stand one square and one round marble monuments that are dedicated to Hermes.

The Temple of the Delians

The latest and largest of the three temples dedicated to Apollo is the Temple of the Delians od The Grand Temple. The construction of the Tempe started in 478 B.C but stopped around the middle of the 5th century B.C., when the treasury of the Delian League was transferred to Athens. The work was never actually finished even it resumed during the perod of the Delian independence. The architecture is peripteral Doric with six columns on each of the narrow sides and thirteen on each of the long ones.

The Minoan Fountain

The Minoan Fountain, dedicated to “Minoan Nymphs”, is a public well hewn in the rock. The fountain was covered by a square building that was open of the south side. The water level could be reached by the stone steps on the south side. The fountain was constructed in the 6th century B.C. and remained in use until the late Hellenistic period, when it was converted into a house.

Terrace of the Lions

The marble lions, dedicated to Apollo by the Nexians in 7th century B.C. stand in a row facing eastwards, toward the Sacred lake. Even originally there were total of sixteen lions, nowadays only five lions and the remains of three more stand at the site. The lions were the eternal guardians of the Sanctuary and were bordering the west side of the road leading from the harbor to the Temples.

The Theatre

Originally the theater was constructed in the 3rd century B.C. from marble and later on it was replaced by a wooden one. The first raw of seats, as at all the other theatres of the Ancient Greece, was reserved for officials and dignitaries. On top the first raw there were twenty-six stone tiers in the lower part and seventeen more in the upper part (epitheatron) of the theatre. The theatre could accommodate almost 5.000 spectators. In front of the round orchestra, the remains of the stage-building (skene) are to be seen.

The Temple of Isis

At the archeological site of Delos is a small Doric Temple within a sanctuary shared by the familiar triad Serapis, Isis and Anubis, located on a high terrace by the foothill of Cynthus. It was constructed in the beginning of the 2nd century B.C. and it was repaired by the Athenians in 135 B.C. and still contains the cult statue of the goddess. Isis, known by a variety of cult names, gave people good health and fortune and protected the sailors.

The Temple of Hera

The Temple of Hera is a Doric Temple that was constructed in around 500 B.C. under its cella were revealed the foundation of an earlier temple, dating back to the beginning of the 7th century B.C.

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